With Tiki torches and citronella candles now being replaced by firepots
and fancy torches as the main illuminator during outdoor summer gatherings,
consumers may have to worry about their safety. It turns out that the
gel fuel used to light these more chic devices can be very dangerous—so
dangerous that in certain situations igniting the fuel gel can cause it
to behave like napalm and quickly envelope a person, sticking to his/her
skin and clothing and refusing to be extinguished even when a blanket
is wrapped around the victim. If you or someone who love has sustained
burn injuries because of a dangerous or defective consumer item, you should
contact our products liability lawyers right away and ask for your free
case evaluation.
Burn injuries can be incredibly painful and they cause a great deal of
suffering for the victim. Specialized medical care may be required to
treat burn injury victims, costly medical procedures while still leaving
the victim permanently disfigured.
Recently, one couple filed their Florida products liability complaint
for burn injuries they sustained while using the NAPAfire and FIREGEL
Pourable Gel Fuel with their firepots last June. Jacqueline Delgado sustained
severe burns that left her in critical condition. Her husband Renee Delgado
also suffered burns. Two weeks after their Florida burn accident, the
Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of approximately
460,000 pourable NAPAfire and FIREGEL products following reports of burn
injuries by consumers who were hurt when the gel fuel ignited unexpectedly
while being poured into a still burning firepot. The gel fuel’s
distributor, Napa Home & Garden, has since filed for bankruptcy protection.
This means many of those who have sustained burn injuries from the product
will be hard pressed to recover products liability damages from the company.
The Delgados, however, have decided to pursue Florida burn injury compensation
from the packagers of the gel fuel, which was promoted as eco-friendly,
the store that sold the firepots to Jacqueline, and the pharmacy where
she purchased the fuel.
Others who have suffered serious burn injuries in similar accidents involving
the gel fuel are a 14-year-old boy in New York and an Orlando man who
died from his injuries. In two separate South Carolina burn injury accidents,
four people are also blaming the gel fuel. Both South Carolina products
liability lawsuits are alleging negligent design, testing, and manufacturing,
and failure to warn about the risks involved.

Products Liability Unfortunately, there are defective/dangerous products that can cause severe
burn injuries to victims. Chemical burns, hot water burns, electrical
burns, and fire burns are some of the burn injuries that can be caused
by consumer goods. A manufacturer, supplier, or distributor doesn’t
have to have acted negligently to be held liable if someone got hurt because
the product was unsafe for use or malfunctioned. There may be more than
one party who should be sued for products liability and/or wrongful death.
Palm Beach County couple files lawsuit after burning incident, Sun-Sentinel/The Palm Beach Post, August 3, 2011
Napa Home & Garden Recalls NAPAfire and FIREGEL Pourable Gel Fuel Due
to Fire and Burn Hazards, CPSC, June 22, 2011
Gel fuel poses extra dangers, Telegram.com, August 1, 2011